GUILTY Oct 6, 2006 - Timothy Colbird, a Mercer County teacher in Spanishburg, was found guilty in July of 38 counts in connection with sexual abuse and assault of a 14-year-old male student.
DEATH Coldbird was transferred to a hospital and later died of metastasized cancer and profuse advanced heart disease on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006. He was 51 years old.
APPEAL Oct 5, 2007 - Lawyers for Colbird's estate asked a judge to set aside Coldbird's conviction, citing the fact that he was not sentenced and death precluded any chance of him appealing the conviction. Mercer Circuit Judge John Frazier declined to set aside Colbird's conviction and told the defense to go ask the state Supreme Court.
State Supreme Court justices will decide Oct. 11 whether to consider Colbird's appeal.
He was the state's "Teacher of the Year" at one point. He also was listed in the "Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges" by the Who's Who Among Students group. Colbird also was named an "Outstanding Young Man of America," according to his obituary.
Clifford said the late Colbird's appeal is necessary for a few reasons; one being the family's right to clear his name.
Two of Colbird's accusers have pending civil suits against his estate. Clifford said he thinks the cases would be tried early next year.
